Best of Sri Lanka - Family Adventure

Experience the many sides of the Gem Island on a family-friendly adventure that blends culture, wildlife and easy-going travel

Designed with families in mind, this adventure reveals the real riches of Sri Lanka. Guided by an experienced local tour leader, we balance well-known highlights with engaging, age-appropriate activities that bring the country to life. We climb the Sigiriya rock fortress in the cooler hours of the morning, head out on safari in search of elephants, and cycle quiet backroads through rural villages where daily life unfolds around us. Shared meals introduce us to Sri Lanka’s varied cuisine, before the journey ends in coastal Negombo, an easy place to relax together or extend your stay by the sea.

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Suitability: This is not a demanding trip, although there are a few long drives on bumpy, twisty mountain roads; regular stops break up the journeys and the buses we use are comfortable and air conditioned. Some included activities, such as walking up the Sigiriya rock fortress, are of Moderate difficulty. They’re done at a relaxed pace but may not be suitable for someone with reduced fitness or mobility issues. Your tour leader can advise on the trip if you have any concerns.

Sigiriya: When visiting Sigiriya, the final ascent is on metal open stairs fixed against the side of the rock. There are handrails on either side but, if you have a strong fear of heights, you may prefer to stay on the lower level (by the lion ‘paws’). You can rejoin the group when they return from the plateau.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Sri Lanka

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, tuberculosis and typhoid. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice. Additionally, dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available; the best form of prevention is to take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

For detailed health and vaccination advice, visit:

• UK: The Travel Health Pro website
• US: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
• Canada: ⁠The Canadian government’s travel health page

Visa

Sri Lanka

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally need a visa (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka. Travellers from most countries can obtain a 30-day ETA (US$50) at www.eta.gov.lk. We strongly recommend that you do this prior to travel to avoid any complications and delays on arrival. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/sri-lanka
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/sri-lanka
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SriLanka.html

Local customs and laws: You should be aware of local laws and customs in Sri Lanka (see: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka/local-laws-and-customs). The mistreatment of Buddhist images and artefacts is an offence; please note, people have been refused entry to Sri Lanka because of visible tattoos of Buddha.

Food & Drink

Allow about 7,000 rupees (US$23) per day for lunch and dinner.

You can eat out very cheaply in Sri Lanka and your tour leader provides recommendations for where to eat locally; however, the options may not always be suited to larger groups. Some locations you stay may have limited local restaurant choice, in which case meals will be at the hotel. Hotel meals are generally buffets; the majority offer an à la carte menu, but service can be slow.

Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s heritage, a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought to the island over the centuries by Malays, Arabs and Indians plus the Dutch, Portuguese and English.

Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent in Sri Lanka. For example, wheat- or dairy-free options outside of hotels are limited. Please be prepared for this – you may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food.

Mineral water is provided by our local operator in large containers throughout the trip so please bring a bottle with you to refill.

Weather

Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two distinct wet seasons or monsoons. The southwest monsoon brings rain to that area of the island between May and August. The northeast monsoon takes place from October to January and only really affects the north and east coastal regions. Generally, expect rain at some time but with plenty of sunshine. On the plains, day- and night-time temperatures are warm to hot with Colombo having an average daytime temperature of 30C (86F). The temperatures drop as we go higher into the hills.